“Oh, joy.”
“Don’t complain. You’re getting the best care. And if these numbers are better in the morning, you’re out of here. Say, where did you find the gorgeous blonde?”
“Jennifer? At a software company. You heard about the guy who disappeared? She worked with him.”
“She’s very ornamental.”
“She’s very sweet, too.”
“Yeah?” Carl scribbled on the clipboard. “Is it serious?”
“Could be.”
“Bring her over to see Margaret and me.”
“You guys are never home.”
“We can be. Call my office when you feel up to it, and we’ll arrange something. Really. I think Margaret would like to meet her.”
Mike and Jennifer appeared in the doorway. Mike stepped up to the bed, but Jennifer hung back a little, taking in the array of equipment connected to him and the flashing, humming monitor.
“So, is he all set for the night?” Mike asked, setting down the bag of Harvey’s gear.
“Yes, I think he’s as comfortable as possible, under the circumstances,” Carl said.
“Okay, Harv, I’m going to check and see if they think LeRoy will make it, then I’m heading out. Just take it easy and rest up. You’re off for the rest of the week, at least.”
“Thanks, Mike.”
“Thank you, captain,” Jennifer said as he turned toward the door.
“Anytime.”
Carl said to Jennifer, “You can stay as late as you want. The nurses will probably make a fuss at ten o’clock, but Harvey’s a special patient of mine.”
Harvey laughed and winced. Jennifer looked very serious.
“I’ll be in on my rounds in the morning, sometime between nine and ten,” Carl said. “I’ll see you then, Harvey. Good night, Jennifer.”
“Thanks, Carl,” Harvey said.
“No problem.”
Jennifer still stood by the bed. Harvey patted the mattress with his IV hand.
“It would hurt you if I sat there.” She pulled a chair over close to the bed and sat.
“You’re too far away.” The bed was in the high position. She stood up and looked at the buttons on the inside of the bed rail, then pushed one that moved the whole bed down.
“Better,” he said. “Put my head up.” She did, until he was sitting most of the way up. Now they were almost on a level. She sat there, looking at him, a bit glassy-eyed. He was afraid she was going to cry again, and he wasn’t sure he could handle that. He had the feeling he would drift off to oblivion soon, thanks to the pain killers, and there were things that urgently needed resolution first. Anticipation has its limitations, he decided.
“Come here, gorgeous.”
She smiled a little and leaned forward.
“Closer. I want to kiss you.”
She sat still for a second, just long enough that he wondered if he’d said the wrong thing.
“Harvey, I—I need to tell you something.”
“What is it, gorgeous?”
She swallowed and leaned closer, stroking his wrist gently. “I’ve decided.” She looked at him quickly, from beneath her lashes. “On the way over here, I realized that I believe it’s all true, and I—I could pray for you then. And I’m not sorry. I just—” she gulped. “I’ll be relying on God now, whatever comes.”
He closed his eyes for an instant, with a prayer of gratitude that was less verbal than a wave of feeling. When he opened them, she was a little out of focus because of his tears.
“Come here.”
She stood and bent toward him, holding her shimmering hair back with one hand. She closed her eyes as her lips brushed his so softly he barely felt their warmth. He tightened his grip on her arm and kept her there until she opened her eyes. She was so close, and her look was so tender, that he couldn’t frame words. She put her hand to his cheek and kissed him again, sweetly, and her hair fell all around him, like curtains shutting out the world.
*****
His breathing seemed more regular and comfortable, but he looked vulnerable in the bed, and he lay watching her from beneath his drooping eyelids. Jennifer wondered if she should have kissed him when he asked her to, at least until she knew what he thought about her newfound belief.
The tears welled in her eyes again as the strain of all that had happened that evening seemed to break. She sat down in the chair again and put her hands on the bed rail, and her head on her hands. It frustrated her that she couldn’t keep from crying. That wasn’t what he needed from her now.
He reached up very slowly and stroked her hair. When she could control her sobbing, she sat up and got a box of tissues off the night table.
“Sorry.” She stepped into the tiny bathroom with the tissue box, blew her nose, and washed her hands. Then she looked in the mirror. Her puffy, red eyes disfigured her face. She ran cold water and splashed a little on her cheeks, then took one of the hospital towels that she probably wasn’t supposed to touch, and used it. Still red and puffy, but inevitable. She went back, carrying the tissue box, and sat down.
“Sorry.” She tried to look composed, smiled the best she could, and said, businesslike, “So, you feeling better?”
“Some.” They looked at each other. He wiggled his fingers a little, and she reached for his hand.
“I love you, you know,” he said.
She started crying again, thinking, This is so awful. I should be laughing, not crying.
He caught the ends of her hair, where it fell over the bed rail, and let them slide through his fingers.
Jennifer smiled. “I didn’t have time to fix it when Mike came. Sorry.”
“Don’t ever be sorry. It’s fantastic.”
She laughed. “Mona Lisa?”
“No, that’s not glorious enough.” She closed her eyes, but she didn’t move away from his caress. He stroked the locks he could reach. “The Jennifer Look, I guess.”
She smiled.
His blue, blue eyes were riveted on her face. “I believe it, too. You know that, don’t you?”
She nodded slowly. “I hoped.”
“I do. I wanted to talk it over with you, but I was afraid I’d mess things up somehow, if you weren’t ready to decide.”
She took a deep breath. She’d been terrified of learning the truth, but at the same time she’d known she could bear it now. “He who dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I couldn’t believe you would give me that passage to read if you weren’t dwelling there yourself.”
He nodded just a little, and set his teeth, closing his eyes briefly. Jennifer touched his temple and lightly traced the fine lines back from his eye to his hairline. “You hurt a lot, don’t you?”
“Some.”
She smiled. “You don’t have to be tough for me. I cried buckets when Mike told me. I was so scared, but I kept thinking of that psalm. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night, nor for the arrow that flieth by day. I knew the Lord was going to bring us through this, even if—well, even if it was—really bad.”
There was a soft knock at the open door, and Pastor Rowland came in.
“Harvey,” he said, his eyes lighting up with pleasure. “I’m glad to see you looking so well. I was afraid you might be unconscious.”
He approached the bed, and Harvey said, “Pastor, how did you know?”
“Beth Bradley called me. I hope it’s all right. I know it’s late.”
“I’m glad you came.”
Jennifer blinked back her tears as she greeted him, and Mr. Rowland went to the other side of the bed and sat down, asking for the particulars on his injury. Jennifer sat quietly, but now and then a tear still rolled down her cheek, and she was emptying the box of tissues rapidly.
“I should call Beth,” she said. There were signs everywhere prohibiting the use of cell phones in the ICU, so she used the phone on the night table. She told Beth that Harvey was doing well, and that she’d be home late, when Eddie c
ame for her. When she hung up, she asked Harvey if there was anyone else she should call.
“Maybe my sisters,” he said, then, “No, let’s wait. I can call them from home tomorrow. They don’t need to get all worked up tonight. It’s not that big a deal.”
“I’d better call my folks in the morning, too,” she said. “If they hear about it on the news, Mom will be wild.”
“I’ve been praying for you two all week,” said Pastor Rowland.
“You mean because of the bomb?” Harvey asked.
“No—well, partly that. I’ve certainly prayed for your safety. But mostly, I’ve been praying for your salvation, that God would show you how much you need him.”
“The helmet of salvation,” Harvey said.
“Yes. The breastplate saved your life today, but you still need the helmet, Harvey.”
Harvey smiled. “Pastor, we’re a jump ahead of you. Jennifer and I were just discussing how we’ve trusted in Christ.” He looked at the pastor gravely. “A few days ago, I came to the conclusion that God has to be real. He’s out there, I’m sure of it. And I couldn’t put off the decision any longer.”
Pastor Rowland smiled. “That’s good news.”
Harvey nodded. “I believe it. The whole thing. Jesus has to be God, and he has to be the one who pays for our sins. Nothing else makes sense.” He looked quickly at Jennifer. “Jenny was just telling me she reached the same conclusion tonight. Our quest is over.” He reached for her hand.
The pastor cleared his throat. “I’m so very happy to hear you say that. May I go over a few scriptures with you?”
Harvey nodded, but he kept his eyes on Jennifer. The pastor went through a lot of the same things they had talked about the week before.
“So, Harvey, you understand all this and believe it?” the pastor said at last.
“Yes, I do.”
“And Jennifer?”
“Yes.”
She felt suddenly that it was like a wedding, and they were taking a vow to each other and God. She squeezed Harvey’s hand and didn’t try to stop the tears when the pastor prayed.
*****
Pastor Rowland left a little after ten o’clock, and Harvey and Jennifer sat there for fifteen minutes, mostly looking at each other and smiling, waiting for Eddie to come back. Finally Harvey said, “I do love you, Jenny. I meant that.”
She took a deep breath. What she felt for him was deeper, more powerful than any emotion she had ever known. For the rest of her life, she wanted to do everything she could to help him and make him happy. She looked at his hand, holding hers tight, and whispered, “I love you, too.”
“Come up here.” His eyes were very, very serious. She stood, and he pulled her down gently. She nearly lost her balance, trying not to touch his chest and hurt him, or dislodge the electrodes. He kissed her lingeringly, and her joy ran riot.
Beeeeeep! A piercing noise came from the monitor on the far side of the bed. Jennifer jumped upright and looked at it, then back at Harvey.
“What’s going on?”
“I don’t know. I’m still not dead.”
Sherri the nurse came bustling in, and went right to the monitor and turned the sound off.
“Let’s see here,” she said, scrutinizing the three bands of data. “What are you up to? You set the alarm off. You okay?” She looked sharply at Harvey through her glasses.
He shrugged. “Yeah.”
“Well, if your heart rate goes up quickly, or your blood oxygen goes down too fast, the alarm goes off. You got that?”
“Okay.” Harvey looked a little guilty.
“So come up for air!” She laughed and left the room.
*****
When Eddie came back, Harvey had him locate his key ring and asked him to take his clothes and gear home and to bring him clean clothes in the morning.
“Just jeans and a T-shirt,” he said, but Jennifer corrected him.
“You’d better have a button-up shirt. You might not be able to get your arms up over your head.”
“I’ll get the bed set up,” Eddie said.
“What bed?” asked Jennifer.
Eddie looked at Harvey, abashed. “Uh, Harvey bought a new bed.”
Jennifer looked at Harvey, remembering her promise to Eddie. She wasn’t supposed to let on that he had blabbed certain things. She smiled. “Don’t tell me you’ve been sleeping on the couch?”
Eddie started to say something, and Harvey scowled at him. Suddenly, Jennifer knew that Harvey didn’t have a couch, either.
“I just didn’t like the old bed,” he said. “I gave it to my neighbor and bought a new one this morning, but it’s not set up yet.”
“I’ll see if I can get Mr. Jenkins or somebody else in the neighborhood to help me,” said Eddie.
“Oh, my razor’s in my locker.” Harvey was barely keeping his eyes open.
“I’ll get it in the morning,” Eddie said. “Good night.”
Harvey didn’t respond. Eddie looked at Jennifer. “I’ll wait in hall.” He went out, carrying the bag of clothes.
Jennifer leaned over him. “Sleep well, Harvey.”
“I think I will,” he said groggily.
“Are you hurting? Do you want me to tell the nurse?”
“No.” He moved his hand a little and winced. She bent toward him, and he gently grasped a hank of her hair. “Good night, gorgeous. I’ll miss you.”
She smiled and held her hand against his whiskery cheek. “I’ll miss you, too.” She didn’t kiss him again. His heart rate was slow and even, and she tiptoed out.
Chapter 24
Harvey awakened when a new nurse came in at six o’clock and checked all the medical equipment and made notes on his chart. He couldn’t go back to sleep. He kept thinking about the shoot-out, and how it might have gone differently. The image of Jennifer crystallized, her anxious eyes the turbulent gray of Casco Bay in a storm. He sent up a swift prayer of thanks, and asked God to give him the thing dearest to his heart.
Jennifer and Beth walked in at 8:45. Jennifer was wearing jeans and a cobalt blue blouse with flowers embroidered on the yoke. Her hair was down again, with two small barrettes holding the sides back a little at the temples. Harvey hoped he beamed strongly enough to convey his approval.
“Hey, gorgeous!”
Jennifer’s smile was dazzling. “Good morning!”
“Hi, Beth.” Harvey pushed the button to raise the head of the bed.
“You look awful,” Beth said, taking in the heavy stubble on his face, the cords and electrodes, and the monitor that hummed serenely.
He smiled and said to Jennifer, “You’ve got a mouthy roommate.”
“Be nice,” Jennifer warned him. “She took a personal day off from school to help us.”
Eddie came to the door carrying a duffel bag, and Jennifer introduced him to Beth.
“They may throw us out,” said Beth, arranging chairs for herself and Jennifer. “They’re pretty strict about visitors in ICU, aren’t they?”
“Carl hasn’t come in yet,” said Harvey. “I can’t wait to get out of here.”
“You sound better,” Jennifer sat down close to him.
“I’m sore, but I feel a lot better.” To prove it, he reached out and caught her hand and held it. He couldn’t suppress his smile, and she smiled back.
Beth carried the conversation, telling about moving into the house with Jennifer the night before and Mike’s arrival with news of Harvey’s injury. Finally Carl stuck his head in.
“What’s this, a party?” He walked over to the monitor. “How you doing this morning, Harvey?”
“A lot better. I’m still plenty sore, but at least I’m breathing.”
Carl turned and smiled charmingly at Beth and Jennifer. “I’ll ask these lovely ladies to please move the party across the hall to the family waiting room. We’ll make a quick examination, and if all goes well, the patient will be going home.”
As Jennifer, Beth, and Eddie walked into the hall,
a nurse came in and pulled the bed curtains and stood next to Carl. He poked and prodded Harvey, but not too hard, and listened quite a while to his right lung.
“Okay, I’m going to have you sit up on the side of the bed, so I can listen to your back.”
He put the head of the bed up more, until Harvey was sitting almost upright. “Now, swing your legs over the side and see if you can sit up on your own.”
Agony but Harvey was determined to pass Carl’s test and get out of here. Carl put the stethoscope to his back, below his right shoulder blade. “Breathe as deeply as you can.” After several seconds, Carl probed the taped area with gentle fingers. Harvey tried not to flinch.
“Okay.” Carl scribbled on the chart, then looked at the nurse. “Let’s get the IV out and take the monitor off. Harvey, I’m sending you home in the tender care of Miss Wainthrop. Take ibuprofen for the pain, and I’m giving you a prescription for Vicodin at night. Take it easy for a few days. If there’s any sharp pain in the lung area, call me.”
The nurse reached for the IV needle and yanked it out.
“Yow!”
“Sorry.” She produced gauze and a Band-Aid from somewhere. “Put a little pressure on that, please.”
“You got something against cops?” Harvey asked.
“I love cops.” She pulled the electrodes off his chest, and Carl switched the monitor off.
“Don’t try to walk alone today, Harvey.”
“Can I get dressed?”
“You’d better. You can’t go home like that.”
“Ha, ha.”
“From whom would you like assistance?” he asked, “your efficient nurse, Kimberley, the stunning Miss Wainthrop, or—”
“Just send my pal Eddie back in here,” Harvey grumbled.
“Will do.” Carl handed him the prescription form and held out his hand. “Make an appointment with me for two weeks from now, and when you call we’ll set up dinner with you and Goldilocks.”
Harvey shook his hand, and Carl and the nurse left. Eddie came back and helped him get into clean jeans and a short-sleeved khaki shirt. He was stiff, and putting his arms into the sleeves hurt. He was glad Jennifer had nixed the T-shirt. He sat down, and Eddie put his socks and shoes on for him. Then he had to go through the excruciating pain of standing up again. Finally, he was dressed.
The Priority Unit (Maine Justice Book 1) Page 28